Learning from the T&T stalemate

Manning and Panday

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WHAT A wonderful and amazing display of political maturity - and human maturity - that has been displayed by the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader of Trinidad and Tobago!

In an amazingly brief, five-day period, the two leaders have managed to broker an agreement that would, at least temporarily, solve the deadlock the country now faces, the result of last Monday's elections.

I cannot help but note a few things that must have helped Panday and Manning to arrive at this kind of consensus in this kind of record time, and ask, respectfully, that both Messrs. Patterson and Seaga take note.

1. The absence of blinding rancour, and the presence of enough respect for - and humour with - each other, despite their political history;

2. No public declarations from the Opposition Leader as to what he was, or was not, prepared to discuss;

3. The openness to swift consultation, together, and with the President (Governor-General) of the nation;

4. The perceived (and, possibly, real) impartiality of the President (though, admittedly, there are peculiar reasons for this);

5. The evidence of each leader's consultation with his own party before these discussions.

I am too often disturbed by the fact that our two political stalwarts, Messrs. Patterson and Seaga, have not been able to get together to discuss certain issues of national importance. I am absolutely certain that, were the (unlikely) scenario of a 30/30 win for PNP and JLP in our next elections arise, the country would be in deadlock for a long, long, time.

I think that Jamaica needs to learn from Trinidad and Tobago on this one.

I am etc.,

Rev. MICHAEL FRIDAY

rev_manfriday@hotmail.com

Miramar, Florida

Via Go-Jamaica

Back to Letters